The new drugs — known as abuse-deterrent formulations, or ADFs — are designed to be harder to crush or dissolve. This feature, according to the drugmakers, makes them difficult to snort or inject. However, the products’ addictive properties are still present when simply swallowed. According to the report, national data from an industry-sponsored tracking system suggests opioid abusers quickly stop using the new products in favor of older painkillers or heroin.
While making opioids more difficult to abuse seems like an intuitively sound step to take, some experts worry the drugmakers’ nationwide lobbying campaign is distracting policy makers and regulatory agencies from taking action to more effectively deal with the crises and guide physicians away from prescribing opioids when possible.
“If we’ve learned one lesson from the last 20 years on opioids it’s that these products have very, very high inherent risks,” said Caleb Alexander, MD, co-director of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness in Baltimore. “My concern is that they’ll contribute to a perception that there is a safe opioid, and there’s no such thing as a fully safe opioid.”
To read the full report on from The AP and The Center for Public Integrity, click here.
More articles on population health:
West Virginia flooded with millions of painkillers amid surging overdose rates
Rate of pregnant women using marijuana rising, study finds
Cold temperatures more lethal than hot ones: 5 things to know
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.